Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Review: Michael McGoldrick Band @ Lichfield Guildhall - The Lichfield Blog

"A large crowd of music fans turned out to hear the Michael McGoldrick band when the talented woodwind player and composer appeared at Lichfield Guildhall.
Best known for his work with the popular groundbreaking Gaelic band Capercaillie and a musician for hire for everyone from Mark Knopfler and John Cale to Youssou N’Dour, the whistle/uillean pipe and low whistle player brought his latest venture to play at the intimate Guildhall.
McGoldrick is often regarded as one of the finest flute and whistle players currently active, and although his fleet fingered playing style adds many ornamentations from Irish, Scottish and Appalachian music, the pieces he writes have a much more catholic approach, appropriating styles and sounds from many other genres.
Assisted by fiddle and low whistle player Colin Farrell, Bodhran and bouzouki player Paddy Kerr and Dermot Byrne on guitar, they played a spirited two hour set of their own music, most of which was taken from the recent Aurora album."

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Flute star set to perform at the Lichfield Guildhall

"One of the country’s best known flute players in coming to Lichfield.
Michael McGoldrick will perform at the Lichfield Guildhall on October 17 alongside Tony Byrne on guitar, Colin Farrell on fiddle and Paddy Kerr on bouzouki, bodhran and guitar.
Lichfield Arts Director Brian Pretty said:
“Besides being a fine flute player Michael is a master of the pipes. And with the sheer energy and subtlety of their music, this will be an outstanding concert.”
The show starts at 8pm and tickets are available from the box office on 01543 262223 or online at www.lichfieldarts.org.uk."

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Niall Keegan

"Niall Keegan was born in the south east of England and began playing Irish traditional flute at an early age amongst the community of first and second generation musicians in and around London.
In 1990 Niall began studying under Dr Micheal O Suileabhain for a Masters degree which he completed in 1992 with the submission of a thesis entitled The Words of Traditional Flute Style. He is course director of the new Traditional Irish Music performance masters at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick and also teaches on the ethnomusicology program there. He has given occasional lectures and taught instrumental classes at the Music Dept. of University College, Cork and University College, Galway, Sibelius Academy, Dublin Institute of Technology, Newcastle University, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama among others."